Melt-cast Energetic Matrices with 3-Nitro-1,2,4-triazole Derivatives for Composite Explosives

Safety requirements for the manufacture, use and storage of high-energy materials and explosive substances necessitate a search for new insensitive components of fusible energetic matrices (propellant matrices) in order to completely or partially replace 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). 3-Nitro-1,2,4-triazole derivatives and their melt-casts with TNT may be proposed as such replacements. Differential scanning calorimetry was employed to characterize the thermal behaviour of 1-methyl-3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole, 1-ethoxymethyl-3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole, t-butyl-3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole and their melt-casts with TNT. This study showed that 1-methyl-3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole and its melt-casts with TNT was the best for explosive systems based on 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-1,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (HNIW), 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetraazacyclooctane (HMX) and guanylurea dinitramide (GUDN). The present article also presents data for the mechanical sensitivity of these explosives and their calculated detonation characteristics. The composite explosive based on HMX with 1-methyl-3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole has a calculated detonation velocity the same as HMX with TNT, but the sensitivity of HMX/TNT is 1.3-1.7 times higher.